Last Thursday, the Circus came to town. Usually we are not regaled with Barnum and Bailey until February. But this was not that circus. This was a media circus. In every sense of the word.

They closed down 2 streets. News Trucks were lined up corner to corner. The Animals were on parade. All for what? For a non-story.

For those just emerging from a cave in Antarctica, Michael Vick was charged with Animal cruelty. For pitting dogs in dog fights at a house he owns. Since these were federal charges (the local Commonwealth attorney did not seek any charges against him), it will be tried in this city, the capital of the Commonwealth and the old Confederacy. A block from where I work. Not Trying - will be tried. As in the future (the trial date has been set for November).

So what was all the fuss about? Well, for those familiar with the legal system, the government cannot drag you into court and try you. They have a procedure to follow. And that procedure is to first arraign you on the charges, and allow you to enter a plea. Anyone ever seen My Cousin Vinny? Remember the first appearance before the judge (old Herman Munster)?

He had 2 choices. 3 words. Guilty OR Not Guilty. That is all he was to say. One OR the other. SO of course, under advice of a bazillion dollar lawyer, he pleaded NOT Guilty. Yet a 6 square block section of the downtown was shut down, the clowns were all dolled up in their makeup beaming satellite feeds back to their audiences to report........

A non-story. Uh, DUH! Is there a person on this planet that thinks he was going to say anything else? you don't pay a bazillion dollars for lawyers to walk in and plead guilty! On an Arraignment!

But the local paper, not to be outdone by the circus (I am sure they had their own clowns there) blared this headline in 3 inch type the next day:

Not guilty, Vick says

What a Scoop! What Pulitzer prize winner! Wow! The Times Disgrace is Shooting for a shot at Prime time with that scoop!

And all those clowns in their clown mobiles? I am sure there is an Emmy in there for them too!

Media will - by in large - spout what their Market Research says we want to hear/participate in, keeps the Sponsors happy.

Thats kind of sad when you look at the end result.

Normally I would agree with you on the sponsors. However, given the fact of the massive hemoraging in the old media, they either are getting the wrong message from the sponsors, or are not listening to it.

And I agree - it is sad. It was a massive waste of time and money (the local police had to cordon off the streets and redirect traffic due to the circus).

When it does come to trial, it will be news. Since he is a celebrity. And many people, especially in Atlanta - will want to know about the trial and evidence. It is not so much giving him coverage as it is reporting a real story. But this was not the case here.

But dont expect him to hang. The scuttle butt here is that he will skate with a fine and not be found guilty of participation - only of financing the operation. I dont know what he did or did not do or know. But I hope the next part in November is not another media circus.